World's most expensive cities

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World's most expensive cities

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World's most expensive cities

$9 for a loaf of bread in Tokyo? $2,100 for a dinner bill in Paris? To see which cities are the most expensive for employees and travelers, the Economist looked at the prices -- in U.S. dollars -- of everyday items in cities worldwide.

Despite a weakening yen and the accompanying drop in the relative cost of living, Tokyo once again earns the distinction as the world's most expensive city. The Japanese city has held the spot for 14 of the last 20 years, said survey author Jon Copestake.

Loaf of bread: $9.06

Liter of milk: $2.93

Bottle of table wine: $15.95

High-end 3-course dinner for four, with wine: $1,266.30

Asian cities like Osaka have seen their cost of living climb in recent years, so much that they now represent 11 of the world's 20 most expensive cities, and three of the top ten. A decade ago Asian cities accounted for just six of the top 20.

Loaf of bread: $7.94

Bottle of table wine: $17.55

Liter of unleaded gas: $1.96

High-end 3-course dinner for four, with wine: $915.32

Australian cities like Sydney were once relatively affordable locales. But in recent years they've been moving up the ranks of the world's most expensive cities as a strong local currency has pushed up prices.

Loaf of bread: $5.03

Bottle of table wine: $25.38

Pack of brand-name cigarettes: $15.48

High-end 3-course dinner for four, with wine: $731.96

Oslo, which is Norway's capital and its most populous city, is the most expensive city in Europe, according to the index.

Loaf of bread: $6.31

Pack of brand-name cigarettes: $15.24

Liter of milk: $2.58

High-end 3-course dinner for four, with wine: $813.36

Melbourne has seen its cost of living jump significantly in the past decade due to the strengthening Australian currency.